Email received last week:
I have been a smoker for many years and feel that I am part of a persecuted minority. I use xxxx online for groceries about once a month and have had problems with them regarding cigarettes before.
I have acquired the habit of ordering various packs and brands at the same time because of non-supply of specific brands, but today I received none at all as all three requested brands were unavailable. They state that they will provide appropriate substitutes in such cases but it never happens [even though] it is fairly obvious that there is a very large range of superking cigarettes that would be acceptable.
I queried this with the delivery driver who told me that staff are not allowed to substitute cigarettes as someone ‘high up’ has decided that it would be promoting smoking.
I feel that it is not within their remit to judge people using their products, and certainly not acceptable for them to use these underhand methods to enforce someone’s personal beliefs regarding smoking. The other major supermarkets which I use more regularly don’t have any such scruples and obviously I will be avoiding xxxx from now on.
I believe smokers should be made aware of this misuse of what appears to be personal prejudice on someone’s part. We are controlled and vilified enough already without the intervention of a supermarket whose job is to supply whatever goods, or substitutes, that are requested and have been paid for by the use of a valid credit card.
I hope you will be able to make this public and go some way to stemming the increasing tide of control of what is still a legal activity.
I am withholding the name of the supermarket while we investigate this further but if anyone has had a similar experience with home deliveries do let me know.